Mile-high burgers, sweet potato fries

Beef noodles set lunch [Photo by Pauline D. Loh / Shanghai Star]

There is a lot to like about these burgers, which you have to open your mouth really wide to accommodate. A lot of attention is given to which kind of bread goes with which burger, and the Gourmet Burger came with ciabatta bread, which was crunchy and smooth on the outside and fluffy on the inside, providing the taste buds with yet another source of delightful texture.

Other burgers come on whole wheat, sesame or pita buns, not just plain burger buns. For the autumn promotions, there is a low-carb option called the Mushroom Zone Burger. Instead of a bun, the burger comes sandwiched between two iceberg lettuce leaves.

Four kinds of mushrooms top the beef patty, and the whole thing was doused in truffle oil and sat upon a bed of soft, cooked onions.

The mushrooms were springy and slippery, giving the burger a fresh and wholesome flavor, while the truffle oil gave it that touch of extra luxury.

Blue Frog regulars will remember the Monday evening special when you get two burgers for the price of one, from 4pm till late, possibly one of the best deals in town for gourmet burgers.

The restaurant we visited is its fourth branch in Shanghai, at Shanghai Plaza on Huaihai Middle Road. The Shanghai Plaza branch features clean and funky modern décor, with colorful lights giving it the atmosphere of a friendly neighborhood bar.

The menu is fairly large, with soups, salads, burgers, steaks, pastas and desserts available. There are also set lunches offered during the weekday, which tend to be more international than its regular menu, ranging from Hungarian goulash with mashed potato to Thai chilli beef as well as the usual Western favorites like roast beef or Parma ham sandwiches.

There are also vegetarian and low-carb options for those with dietary restrictions. Blue Frog’s other branches are at Shanghai World Financial Center, Kerry Parkside and Super Brand Mall.